A special trust set up by author J.K. Rowling has made a generous donation to a women’s aid center in Stirling, Scotland. ICPerthshire reports The Volant Trust “has awarded the charity Â£25,000 to help furnish its new local refuge, which is set to open shortly…The Volant Trust was set up by JK Rowling to support charitable causes and projects, nationally or community-based, at home or abroad, which alleviate social deprivation, with a particular emphasis on women’s and children’s issues.”

The Volant Trust was first established in 2002 by J.K. Rowling and has funded things such as The BRAW Network (Books Reading And Writing Campaign in Scotland), and the Edinburgh Young Carers Project in the past among others(pdf link for additional funding breakdown). The Trust also has contributed to the Children’s High Level Group (now The Children’s Voice) which readers will recall Jo founded several years ago in response to the plight of orphaned children in Eastern European countries. According to the Trust webpage, the primary areas of funding involves “donations to research into the causes, treatment and possible cures of Multiple Sclerosis, as well as charities and projects, whether national or community-based, at home or abroad, that alleviate social deprivation, with a particular emphasis on women’s and children’s issues.” One note: The name Volant is significant as it is the maiden name of Jo’s mother Anne, who lost her battle against MS shortly before the publication of her daughter’s beloved series of books.